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Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois. The city lies on the Sangamon River. Abraham Lincoln lived in Springfield for more than 20 years before he became the president of the United States.

The capital of Illinois, Springfield will always attract admirers of Abraham Lincoln. Here Lincoln lived during the 23 years preceding his election to the presidency of the United States. His body and the bodies of his wife and three of the couple’s sons are entombed in a mausoleum northwest of the city. In the Old State Capitol Lincoln served as a legislator. The only home he ever owned is a national historic site. His tomb and the Old State Capitol are maintained by the state as historic sites. About 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of the city is New Salem, where Lincoln lived for six years. The village has been restored and is now called New Salem State Park. (See also Lincoln, Abraham.)